Skywire looks to bounce back in Durham Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Which version of Skywire will show up in Sunday’s $125,000 Durham Cup Stakes? That’s a question handicappers must ponder in the Grade 3 contest on the Tapeta at Woodbine.

Skywire was the beaten favorite in last year’s Queen’s Plate, and he went to the sidelines following another double-digit loss in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. This year, he won the Grade 2 Eclipse going the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Durham Cup on July 4 and was second to now-sidelined divisional leader Mr Ritz in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup on July 26.

Skywire switched to turf in the Grade 3 Singspiel on Sept, 19, when he failed to stay the 1 1/4-mile distance during an eighth-place finish. Trainer Mark Casse said the gelded son of Afleet Alex isn’t the easiest horse to get a handle on.

“I actually thought he would run really well in the Singspiel,” Casse said. “He just didn’t show up at all. He can do that. I worry that he kind of goes over the top on me sometimes. You just never know when it’s coming. This weekend will be a bit of an unknown. I may have to give him a break after this. He doesn’t throw a lot of good races back to back.”

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Casse also entered Pioneer Man and Salute With Honor in the seven-horse field.

Pioneer Man won a second-level optional claimer traveling 1 1/16 miles when returning from an eight-month layoff July 12. Most recently on Aug. 29, he was a belated fourth in a nine-furlong allowance with no conditions on the main turf.

“He probably could have run a little better than he did in his last race, but he got hung up,” Casse said. “He may be a little better on Tapeta.”

Salute With Honor is the consummate need-the-lead type. His last three victories, dating back to July 2019, were all in optional claimers where he was able to shake loose early. He earned a career-high 96 Beyer Speed Figure last time when scoring by 6 1/4 lengths with a $62,500 tag.

Armistice Day should be well-backed off a fifth-place finish behind Starship Jubilee, March to the Arch, and War of Will in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. The versatile 4-year-old won a second-level optional claimer that was taken off the turf and moved to the Tapeta three starts ago, and his synthetic-track record is good.

Roaring Forties is stretching out off consecutive fringe finishes behind champion Pink Lloyd in a pair of Grade 3 sprints. The 4-year-old is unbeaten in two 1 1/16-mile starts on the Tapeta, which were both in optional-claiming company.

The improving Timeskip was supplemented off a second in a nine-furlong optional claimer.